The Functional and Morphological Changes and Land Value Pattern in the City Centre of Karachi

Abstract

City center is the commercial and financial heart of the city. The CBD, the Business Core, the Down town, the Central Commercial Area and the High Street are other names of it. The City Centre is the area which is distinct in its land use, function and land value. In the Western cities the suburban growth has changed cities from monocentric to polycentric. The non-Western cities are still monocentric. However, morphological and functional changes took place in both Western and nonWestern cities. In Western Cities dispersal of retail from the City Centre has replaced retail function from business and finance. This change is also taking place in mega non-Western cities. The same is also true in Karachi City which is the largest city of Pakistan. The City Centre of Karachi emerged from the retail market of Jodia Bazar around 1860. It has now expanded on Shahra-e-Faisal. It was once the retail heart of the city but has lost that position in a marked manner. It was once the geographical center of the city which is no more. It possesses the highest land value in the city